Luftwaffe attack on Neutral Ireland
 

Good evening all,
On 26 Auguast 1940 two Heinkel 111 aircraft attacked two targets in Co Wexford in Neutral Ireland. It was the only occasion in which a deliberate attack took place on neutral territory. The time was early post midday. Although the two Heinkels were flying low at times no markings other than the national marking were recognised.
Would anyone have any information on operations by the Luftwaffe on that day that would help to identify the unit responsible.
Many thanks
regards
Tony K

Re: Luftwaffe attack on Neutral Ireland
 

Hi,

I would say that they might be Ju 88s from K.Fl.Gr.806.

Regards

Robert

Re: Luftwaffe attack on Neutral Ireland
 

I can find no mention in Luftwaffe records of any attack on Eire that day although 2 Ju 88s from KG 806 attacked an airfield at Cleave and another two were active in the Scillies/St Eval area early afternoon

Re: Luftwaffe attack on Neutral Ireland
 

Irish Army Military Archives File no.G2/X/0468 quoted in Patrick J Cummins book ""Emergency" Air Incidents- South East Ireland 1940-1945".This attack by two Heinkel 111 did happen and the German Government paid compensation of £12,000

Re: Luftwaffe attack on Neutral Ireland
 

It's Ireland Chris, its Éire in the Irish language. You don't refer to Germany as Deutschland in normal everyday parlance.

From the constitution as adopted in 1937:
The name of the State is Éire, or, in the English language, Ireland.

Back in the pedantic corner for me.

Re: Luftwaffe attack on Neutral Ireland
 

Thank you Robert and Chris, the aircraft were identified as Heinkels by the military personnel of the Look Out Post at Carnsore. (Post No14) and confirmed after consulting their recognition manuals.

Ardmoral, yes indeed Paddy Cummins as usual is correct.

Now Dennis! how am I going to deal with you, Chris shouldI I administer the torture for his sheer impertinance ?........(even though he is correct)
Dennis " amach go di an line"
Many thanks to all
Tony K

Re: Luftwaffe attack on Neutral Ireland
 

Dennis-pedantic maybe but no slur intended. As a Welshman, I refer to my principality as Cymru or Wales and as to Germany, well it is up to personal preference!

Re: Luftwaffe attack on Neutral Ireland
 

The nearest possible unit is from KG 27,operating from Tours.Their He 111s used "G" in their idents but without a preceding numeral.

Re: Luftwaffe attack on Neutral Ireland
 

Ardmoreal,
KG27 used the code 1G+the aircraft identification letter, followed by the staffel letter.
regards
Tony K

Re: Luftwaffe attack on Neutral Ireland
 

Robert, would you be able to qualify why you think they might be K.Fl.Gr.806 Ju88, heinkel sighhtings not withstanding?

Looking at England civilian casualties for the day, there are 62 names listed from using Geoff Sullivans website.

Two of these names were people who died of injuries recieved in previous days.

Of the remainder, the largest group is 38 people killed in Birmingham County Borough.

Six men died as civilians at Harwell airfield, in Wantage district Berkshire.

5 people died in Folkstone, Kent
2 in Eston, Yorkshire
2 in Dunmow, Essex
2 in Beddington and Wallington, Surrey
1 Stockton on Tees
1 Croyden
1 Hove, Sussex
1 Hayes, Middlesex
1 Saffron Walden, Essex, but this was at Debden airfield

Some of the above places must be bordering on each other, I'd have to investigate Google maps.

Does it show us anything? Small scale raids, disjointed? Could it be indicative of lost crews, although the attack in Ireland seems fairly deliberate.

Daily report from RAF BoB site:
http://www.raf.mod.uk/bob1940/august26.html

Re: Luftwaffe attack on Neutral Ireland
 

Two Heinkels in close formation passed over the Wexford Coast at Carnsore.Shortly after one broke away and proceeded to locate and bomb the railway viaduct at Ambrosetown , it carries the rail line from Waterford to Rosslare. The other continued on to the village of Campile and circled the co-op site, it dropped four bombs one of which failed to explode.
The two Heinkels rejoined formation as they exited the Irish Coast.
The bombs dropped at the viaduct were impact bombs and the Campile bombs were delayed action, the timing was lunch time. An Air Corps aircraft was despatched to the area shortly after and as it flew down the East Coast the pilot reported that the weather was excellent with Bardsey visible and further south, St Davids Head and Pembroke also clearly visible. The coastwatchers at Carnsore and Greenore in subsequent interviews by G2 confirmed that they were Heinkels
.
If that was not deliberate targeting than what is ?
I have not been able to identify the unit so far.
Tony K

Re: Luftwaffe attack on Neutral Ireland
 

Just trying to get people thinking Tony!!

Re: Luftwaffe attack on Neutral Ireland
 

Good idea Dennis, I thought that I should give more clearity to my original posting. Ju88's are out as far as the evidence shows.
Tony K